When people walked past, he lunged at the bars, teeth bared, eyes blazing. His whole body went rigid, muscles trembling with tension.

Most visitors skipped his kennel entirely.

But Lily didn’t flinch. Her hands rested calmly on the wheels of her chair as she said, “I’d like to try.”

Her mother’s face paled. “Lily, honey…” she began, but Lily gave a reassuring smile.

“I’m not afraid,” she said.